Meat export: Modi attacks PM as Centre turns tables

“The PM,instead of misleading the people of Gujarat,should give a direct answer to my question. Have you not announced Rs 15 crore subsidy for those who start a slaughterhouse?… Are you not giving 50 per cent subsidy for transportation of beef and mutton from ports? Have you not given crores of rupees in subsidy for meat export?” The advertisement by union minister of commerce and industry said: “Meat exports being promoted? Here is the truth behind this. It went on to state that export of cow meat was banned so there was no question of subsidy. “As per the constitution,protection of animals was a state subject,so all laws relating to this were the rights of a state government,” it said.

It added how buffalo meat export was allowed since 1969,and between 1998-99 and 2003-04 “…under the NDA regime,at least 15 lakh tonnes of meat (buffalo) was exported from India”.

The advertisement pointed out that it was the state government’s duty to act against anything that went against protection of animal rights and to lay down rules.

The textile ministry’s ad stated that farmers in Gujarat had earned profits over Rs 7,000 crore in 2011-12 because of the centre’s policies.

Modi turned it around to say how the Centre had banned export of cotton in the peak season causing loss of Rs 14,000 crore.

An interesting detail had come out in the last Assembly session on July 19 that more than 9.9-lakh-kg beef (including buffalo meat) was impounded between 2007 and 2011 from various checkposts in Gujarat.

Maximum seizures (13 cases) were reported from Navsari district,where the beef impounded was being exported to Vietnam,Sharjah,Doha,Muscat,Kuwait,Iraq,Jordan,Kalbala (Iraq),Burma and other countries.

The total impounded beef contained 3,28,998 kg of cow meat and 6,63,719 kg of a mix of cow and buffalo meat.

This was said by Modi in response to a question asked by Congress MLA Raghavji Patel.

“Against the accused caught in transportation of beef,beef mixed with buffalo meat and buffalo meat,the state government has registered cases under the provisions… of the Bombay Animal Conservation Act 1954. The accused (truckers) were arrested and chargesheets were filled in courts…,” Modi had said in a written reply as home minister.